Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.
Author's note: This chapter is dedicated to my great uncle Lee (January 10, 1925-July 1, 2005) He fought in the Pacific in WWII, but otherwise Lee Something Unpronounceable's story is true.
Thanks as always to Suzanne of Dragon's Breath for the beta and to everyone who reviewed.
Gestapo Dossier: Colonel Robert E Hogan, USA
Observations of Lieutenant Karl Muller, Gestapo
Sent to Major Wolfgang Hochstetter, Hammelburg Gestapo Headquarters
Decoded message follows:
Day 3
I am very grateful for the comprehensiveness of the dossier collected on the late Corporal Thomas Robertson, whose identity I have assumed. I have been very rigorously questioned on each aspect of it in the past two days. The prisoners do not have access to the information—at least I assume they do not have access to the information—but at least it keeps me from contradicting myself.
I was given a night to become accustomed to my lodgings and –perhaps—to let my guard down before the testing began.
I did finally meet Colonel Hogan one on one yesterday morning. He was obviously exhausted—could his business have extended into the night? —and he took the opportunity to remind me that all I am to give the interrogators is name, rank, and serial number. He then asked basic background questions, such as my unit and my base, and asked about "people he knew" from that unit, none of whom exist. This was an obvious trap, and I was able to sidestep it easily. It was not the last.
While none of the prisoners were so obvious as to question me about batting averages or who won which World Series, which is a shame because I spent so much time memorizing them, I was obviously subjected to an interrogation. One prisoner asked about my hometown, which I gave as New York City, and less than an hour later another prisoner asked me My preferred route through Central Park, as well as my favorite sights there.
Also, I believe I was searched by an RAF corporal. While I am not certain of this, I cant think of any other reason for him to run into me, yet I doubt it was an accident. Fortunately, I had already deposited my last repot at the designated drop point.
While the prisoners were questioning me, I was trying to get information from them. They were often more than willing to share their experiences, as that would give me more reason to share mine. I have found through careful questioning that I do not understand what drives these Americans. Many of their families have not been in that country for more than a few generations, yet they still choose to fight for America rather than their parents' homeland.
One example of this is a corporal Lee Something Unpronounceable, who was trying to learn which bands I prefer. His parents were born in Italy and his father fought for our allies in the last war, yet he is firmly on the side of the Americans. He told me that he even turned down a post in a POW camp in the states, which was offered to him because he speaks fluent Italian, and chose to fight instead. This information is suspect because he is the one who offered it to me, but I have no reason to doubt him.
As far as my search is concerned, I have begun a through search of barracks nine. This is complicated by the need to do it when I am alone, but I have managed get one quarter of the building searched. Unfortunately, the other residents are rather suspicious of me yet, and are loath to leave me unsupervised for long.
So far I have only found the normal contraband items one would expect, but there is no evidence of radios, weapons, or tunnels. This does not mean that there are no such items in the camp, for there may be some in the uninvestigated portion of this barracks, or in Colonel Hogan's barracks.
I believe that I have convinced the prisoners that I am nothing more than I appear to be, a slightly bewildered American flier, and I have found no overt signs of sabotage or espionage activities. Hopefully the prisoners will begin to share sensitive information now that they have tested my credentials.
More reports to follow.